GOV, Westchester hires Storino, Ramello and Durkin [W]

Largely at the behest of Village President Paul Gattuso Westchester hired Storino, Ramello and Durkin to reprsent the village. The former attorney was moved to the role of village prosecutor. See Westchester Herald (David Pollard).

Pollard does a noteworthy job connecting the dots.

Storino, Ramello and Durkin and Westchester Park District have ties as well. Richard Pellegrino is counsel to the firm and is the attorney for Westchester Park District.

Pellegrino is also the mayor of Indian Head Park, where Steve Busa is the finance director. Busa is also the president of Westchester Park District.

When asked if this arrangement is a little too close for comfort, Gattuso said no. He said the law firm is a good firm and that's why he recommended them for appointment.

Gattuso dodges the obvious. There are plenty of good firms in the Chicago area that don't raise conflict-of-interst issues.
Westchester Trustee Rick Fox has comments on Westchester Public Affairs.

Mr. Gattuso chose the law firm Storino, Romello & Durkin out of Rosemont to represent the village.

While I have heard nothing negative about this firm, my comment to Mr. Gattuso during discussion of his selection was that he should get presentations from several municipal law firms to ensure the village was getting the best firm and the best price.

Mr. Gattuso chose not to do so.

As far as why this was done, I can only speculate.

What I know is that Mr. Gattuso relies heavily on the advice of the Westchester Park Board for council. The Park Board's attorney is Rich Pelligrino. Rich Pellegrino is the Village President of Indian Head Park. Park Board President Steve Busa is Indian Head Park's Treasurer. Mr. Pellegrino is listed on Storino, Romello & Durkin's website as one of their attorneys.

Further, Mr. Gattuso has said a number of times that he relies on other Proviso Township mayors for advice. Don Storino of SR&D has a son with the same name who is village manager in Forest Park. [UPDATE: Mike Sturino has a similar sounding, but different name than Donald Storino, although Forest Park does have Storino, Ramello and Durkin as counsel.]

Mr. Gattuso has said he feels comfortable with this firm as our village attorney and I have no doubt they'll do a fine job.

My question before the appointment was official and my question now remains - why didn't we follow a similar process for selecting a village attorney as we did for selecting a village manager and a new fire chief, i.e., interview more than one candidate?